Laithwaites wins top merchant award as all the 2015 IWC winners take a bow

ByNigel Huddleston

Published: 16 July, 2015

Laithwiates has been named Merchant of the Year in the 32nd International Wine Challenge announced at the Hilton Hotel in London's Park Lane tonight.

For the second consecutive year, Oddbins was named High Street Chain of the Year and Morrisons picked up the award for Supermarket of the Year, beating 2013 and 2014 winner Marks & Spencer. Morrisons received four gold medals, 16 silver and 24 bronze throughout the competition.

Marks & Spencer picked up the Corporate Social Responsibility Award, while Hatch Mansfield was awarded the title of Large Agent of the Year and Seckford Agencies secured the Small Agent of the Year Award.

Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the IWC, said: "The International Wine Challenge is more than just a celebration of world-class winemakers. We also reward top wine merchants. These are the companies that make the extra effort to sell world-class wines to their customers, and who have demonstrated particular passion and expertise in doing so.

"They are the top specialists in wines from different wine regions, and the outstanding retailers in every corner of the UK. They have demonstrated their commitment to customers and winemakers alike over the past year, and we are proud to recognise their hard work."

Harveys was awarded the Champion Fortified Wine for its Very Old Palo Cortado 30 Year Old VORS.

Charles Heidsieck was awarded the Daniel Thibault Trophy for Champion Sparkling Wine for its 1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires. It is the fourth time in the last seven years that Charles Heidsieck has produced the Champion sparkling wine.

Piper-Heidsieck was awarded the Champion of Champions Award for its Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Rare 1998 Magnum. This new category was open to wines that have received Champion status in a previous IWC competition.

Metcalfe said: "We've had a fantastic year at the competition this year, and we have tasted some truly spectacular wines.

"These Champion winners are the absolute best of the best. Anyone lucky enough to get their hands on any one of these wines will be in for a real treat.

"To beat thousands of other entries from all around the world is a huge achievement for these winemakers. They are masters of their craft and should be extremely proud to receive this prestigious accolade."

Alain Rogier, chief executive of Cave De Roquebrun in Languedoc was Red Winemaker of the Year after the producer picked up two trophies, five gold medals, nine silver and nine bronze.

Kym Schroeter of Penfold's in Australia was White Winemaker of the Year and Laurent Fresnet from Champagne Henriot secured the title of Sparkling Winemaker of the Year.

The prize for Fortified Winemaker of the Year went to Manuel Lozano, of sherry producer Emilio Lustau, for the sixth consecutive year.

Hans Tschida from Weingut Hans Tschida in Austria picked up the Sweet Winemaker of the Year award for the fifth time.

Metcalfe, said: "These masters of wine production have proved they are true artists.

"This is about much more than a crop of great wines from a special vintage - these winners have proven that they can consistently produce the finest wines year on year.

"Their expertise and passion is evident in every sip."

This year's IWC Lifetime Achievement award went to Sylvain Pitiot, the long-standing manager and technical director of the famous Clos de Tart estate in the village of Morey-St-Denis in Burgundy.

He stepped down from his role at the vineyard at the end of 2014, having spent nearly 20 years in the position, during which time he dramatically improved its wine production.

The IWC Personality of the Year went to Hans Joachim - better known as Joe - Wadsack, co-host of BBC Two's Food & Drink.

Metcalfe said "These two pillars of the wine trade have demonstrated that a career driven by passion can be hugely rewarding."

Five out of the six winners in the great value Great Value Champions section were supermarket own-brand wines.

Tesco topped the bill with Great Value Champion status for its Finest Vintage Grand Cru Champagne 2007, which was named Great Value Champion Sparkling, and its Finest Dessert Semillon 2009 - made by De Bortoli in Australia - which was Great Value Champion Sweet of the year.

Aldi's The Exquisite Collection Clare Valley Riesling 2014 was Great Value Champion White and Asda won Great Value Champion Red for its Extra Special El Mesón Gran Reserva 2005.

Marks and Spencer picked up the Great Value Champion Fortified 2015 award for its Dry Old Palo Cortado NV, produced by Emilio Lustau.

The only non-supermarket tipple to receive Great Value Champion status was the Italia Pinot Grigio Rosé 2014, produced by Adria, which was awarded Great Value Rosé.

The IWC also awarded its Planet Earth Awards to winemakers who prioritise sustainability while consistently creating world-class wines.

For the second year in a row, Spanish producer Alta Alella Domaine de la Vougeraie received the IWC's Best Organic Wine Trophy, this time for its Alta Alella AA Mirgin Gran Reserva 2010 Cava.

Auckland vineyard Man O' War received the Sustainable Trophy for its Gravestone Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon 2013.

The Biodynamic Trophy went to EQ Syrah 2012 by Matetic Vineyards in Chile.

De Bos Sauvignon Blanc 2014, produced by South Africa's Bosman Family Vineyard, scooped the Fairtrade Award, sponsored by Origin Wines.

The Champion Sake Award was won by Homare Sake Brewery for its Aizu Homare Banshu Yamadanishiki Junmai Daiginjo.

The full list of the IWC Merchant Award 2015 winners is:

? Large Agent of the Year: Hatch Mansfield

? Small Agent of the Year: Seckford Agencies

? Online Retailer of the Year: Laithwaites Wine

? High Street Chain of the Year: Oddbins

? Innovator of the Year: Roberson Wine

? Large Independent Merchant of the Year: Tanners Wines

? On-Trade Supplier of the Year: Liberty Wines

? Small Independent Merchant of the Year: Vagabond Wines

? Small Independent Merchant of the Year - Highly Commended: Bottle Apostle

? Supermarket of the Year: Morrisons

? Supermarket of the Year - Highly Commended: Waitrose

? Wine List of the Year: Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines

? Wine List of the Year - Highly Commended: Yapp Brothers

? Wine Educator of the Year: ThirtyFifty

? Wine Merchant of the Year: Laithwaites Wine

? Corporate Social Responsibility Award: Marks & Spencer

? Generic Campaign of the Year: JK Marketing for Wines of Brasil

? Regional Merchant of the Year, Central England North: Loki Wines

? Regional Merchant of the Year, London: Lea & Sanderson

? Regional Merchant of the Year, North East England: John Hattersley Wines

? Regional Merchant of the Year, North West England: Define Food & Wine